PRE-ORDER OF THE ARROW HONOR CAMP SOCIETIES
The Order of the Arrow was founded in 1915, as an honor camper society at Treasure Island, outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The program spread across the country, incorporated into Scout Camps as one of several multi-camp honor camper programs, often alongside local honor camper societies with their own histories, customs and traditions. In 1948, the Boy Scouts of America designated the Order of the Arrow as its official honor camper organization.
Many long-term camp programs have "honor camper" activities, with a special patch or emblem for a Scout that completes a specific set of requirements, tasks completed at the camp that are not related to merit badges or advancements. For the definition of an "honor camper society", the recognition would be based on the selection by others (usually staff or other society members), with no specific tasks, induction into the society with a ceremony, or could be an honor group with hierarchy or officers with meetings apart from the camp. Many of these organizations lasted but a few years, as new staff and camp leadership make their own marks into their programs. A few of these programs created special emblems so that others could recognize their members.
Information about these societies and their members have been found in newspapers from that era. Many councils ensured that as much information about their activities could be available to the public.
Many long-term camp programs have "honor camper" activities, with a special patch or emblem for a Scout that completes a specific set of requirements, tasks completed at the camp that are not related to merit badges or advancements. For the definition of an "honor camper society", the recognition would be based on the selection by others (usually staff or other society members), with no specific tasks, induction into the society with a ceremony, or could be an honor group with hierarchy or officers with meetings apart from the camp. Many of these organizations lasted but a few years, as new staff and camp leadership make their own marks into their programs. A few of these programs created special emblems so that others could recognize their members.
Information about these societies and their members have been found in newspapers from that era. Many councils ensured that as much information about their activities could be available to the public.
CHEROKEE TRIBE CAMP WEWA 1928 to 1930 Halifax, Central Florida Councils
In 1928, both Halifax and Central Florida Councils held their camps together at Camp Wewa, the Central Florida Council facility near Plymouth. The "Cherokee Tribe" was created during that summer, with one "honor camper" chosen per day by specific staff members. Membership was "composed only of honor Scouts who have been selected for their proven ability as campers and outstanding Scout Spirit". The first member chosen was Cleve Allen of Troop 1, Daytona Beach, and was named as the organizations first chief. A later recounting described "at the camp is a separate tent, in which dwell members of a so-called "Cherokee Tribe". Members of the Cherokee Tribe are made so by distinguished things done by Scouts at Camp, one boy being admitted to the Tribe each day, under such an arrangement." Each honoree was given a "Cherokee name", along with a feather and an undescribed emblem. Most of those found to have been recognized in 1928 were from Halifax Council. The last reference to Cherokee Tribe was in 1930, with an inductee from Clermont.
TIPISA HONOR CAMPER SOCIETY CAMP WEWA 1938 to 1945 Central Florida Council |
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The Tipisa Honor Camper Society was brought into Central Florida Council from an executive from Camp Kanesatake (Wolverine Council, Michigan), where "TIPISA, The Order of the Red Lodge" was created in 1930. That executive brought the program to his next assignment in Meshingomesia Council in Indiana. His replacement at Wolverine Council, Harold Pace, moved to Orlando, and created a third Tipisa organization. Tipisa Honor Camper Society began at Camp Wewa in 1938, with 18 charter members inducted during the summer. The totem of membership for Tipisa members was "a small emblem of an Indian tepee to be glued to the bottom of the Camp Wewa Emblem."(Orlando Sentinel, June 19, 1938). Reunion meetings were held in late December of each year, presided over by Harold Pace, Chief of the society. At the 1942 meeting, the 16 attendees voted unanimously to seek affiliation with the Order of the Arrow; no further action was taken until 1945. At a meeting held at Camp Wewa on September 29, a 18-7 vote was taken in favor of seeking affiliation, after two hours of discussion. In November 1945, seven members attended the Area J Conference of the Order of the Arrow at Camp Echockotee, and took their Ordeal at the event. Tipisa Lodge #326 received their first Order of the Arrow charter in early 1946.
ECHOCKOTEE HONOR ASSOCIATION CAMP ECHOCKOTEE 1927 Greater Jacksonville Council |
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In 1927, 43 Scouts and adults were chosen to become members of the "Echockotee Honor Association". Criteria for membership is unknown. The list of honorees were in an article in the September 11, 1927 issue of the Florida Times-Union, with plans to meet that winter.
ORDER OF THE E-CHOCK-O-TEE CIRCLE CAMP ECHOCKOTEE 1928 Greater Jacksonville Council
The Honor Camper program changed its name in 1928, with four degrees of recognition. The first degree of membership was open to all campers, receiving a felt "E" green emblem for everybody in attendance. The second degree was a red star to be attached to the felt "E", "given to the camper who registers for and remains in camp for fourteen days, who stands a character test for cleanliness, trustworthiness and cheerfulness, and passes the physical, campcraft, social, and spiritual tests." (Florida Times-Union, July 15, 1928). No record has been found if anyone earned the third or fourth degrees. This program lased but one year.
CAMP ECHOCKOTEE HONOR FRATERNITY CAMP ECHOCKOTEE 1929 to 1944 Greater Jacksonville Council, North Florida Council |
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Yet another version of an Honor Camper society began in 1929, this time called "Camp Echockotee Honor Fraternity". The charter members were selected on June 24, 1929, "Scouts who were pitched for being outstanding in camp during the previous week... only four of five Scouts are selected each week so as to keep Scouts that are deserving of merit in the order." Officers were elected at a meeting in July 1029, with Reginald Wisenfield elected President, Rudolph Lamb as vice president, William Chambers as secretary, and Owen McAlon as quartermaster. The names of those chosen for membership were to be painted on a shield, to be displayed on the wall of the dining hall. Tasks for members during camp was to conduct the opening ceremonies at the Monday Night campfire, a dramatic affair that included members entering with blaring trumpets and carrying a large chest to the stage. The Honor Fraternity had plans to serve throughout the year, with work planned during the Fall and Spring. The induction ceremony was held after Taps, waking up the candidates for their investiture. Newspaper accounts in 1940 mention that honorees that year "will be awarded Camp Echockotee Honor Camper emblems at the close of the season." A public ceremony on September 30, 1943 presented 52 medals to the 72 recipients that year. An Order of the Arrow lodge was chartered in June 1941, with charter members that were also members of the Honor Fraternity. The Honor program appears to have ended after the 1944 season.
TRIBE OF MANATEE CAMP FLYING EAGLE 1931 to 1935 Sunnyland Council
"Tribe of Manatee", the honor camper society at Camp Flying Eagle was unveiled in May 1931, before the beginning of that year's summer camp season. The first newspaper article describes the eligibility criteria: "to be eligible for this honor, scouts must make a very high record while at camp." (Bradenton Herald, May 10, 1931). As camp was coming closer, the foundation for the group was "Founded upon the traditions and lore of the early Indians of Florida, this fraternity has adopted a ritual that is very impressive, and the Scouts that are chosen to receive its honors will be the envy and admiration of every camper. The candidates will be chosen from among the Scouts who make honor records during each week of the camp period." The initiation into Tribe of Manatee would not be considered acceptable today: initiates would be taken from their cabins in the middle of the night, bound and blindfolded, put into a canoe for a trip to the "village of Amaca". From there, after a short verbal battle, they would be "adopted" into the Tribe of Manatee, by the "chief", Zertepe. An article from the 1932 season mentions only one person as a member to the Tribe, the sachem of the group (Leslie Roberts). An emblem of membership may have been created, "The emblem of membership is a peculiar and different kind of neckerchief slide", with no further description. The group had been mentioned in articles promoting the summer camp through 1934; for 1935, "The Tribe of Manatee, a secret Indian club, has been revived. One night during each week, the Indians raid the cabins and drag forth their prey. The junior staff has complete charge of this club.." No further mention of the Tribe was found after 1935.
TRIBE OF MUSCOGEE CAMP SOULE 1940? to 1945? Pinellas Council
Very little is known about this honor society, other than the three levels in the hierarchy of the organization. The names of three Eagle Scouts in 1943 were found in the local newspaper, mentioning membership in the Tribe of Muscogee in their history.
ORCHARD POND WINGS / ORDER OF THE ARROWS CAMP ORCHARD POND 1937? to 1941? Suwannee River Area Council
Camp Orchard Pond, like many camps during the 1920s and 1930s, created an "honor camper" regimen for the completion of certain tasks. These tasks, or "coups" may be related to demonstrating specific Scout skills, inspections, performing a good skit at the campfire, and overall Scout-like behavior. Those campers at Orchard Pond that completed a certain number of tasks were recognized with the "Orchard Pond Wings", a felt patch of the letter "O". In later years, that "O" would be a patch with wings on each side. The first mention in the newspapers of the day was in 1937, information shared by a family that their son Wesley Frank Carter had returned from Camp Orchard Pond, where he was one of ten boys to receive their wings (Tallahassee Democrat, June 20, 1937). In May 1939 came an announcement of a new group, "A new socierty for two week campers will; be formed known as "The Order Of The Arrows". To receive a membership in this order a Scout must prove himself as honor camper and must have life savings, nature work and received his Orchard Pond wings. An appropriate emblem will be given members." (Tallahassee Democrat, May 17, 1939). No further mention of the Order of the Arrows has been found. In 1940, the camp director announced that the Orchard Pond Wings program will continue, that "emblems are attractively designed and a different emblem will represent each year's wings." No further information has been found.
